I still view Houston as the top club despite the loss on the road to Seattle. Missing a few key players and still pushing hard for points made me bigger believers in Dominic Kinnear’s group. Had they been at full strength it would have been a different result. Not to take anything away from Seattle here, I do believe they have giving us a legitimate reason to call them a contender here. As long as injuries don’t get in the way we could see Sigi Schmid’s expansion group making a deep run this season in the playoffs.

Team	Rank (Last Week)	Record (W-L-T)	Comments
	1 (1)	9-4-4 31 pts.	Lacked a few key players against Seattle but still showed me that they are top dog as they nearly came away with points at Qwest.
	2 (2)	7-3-7 28 pts.	Definitely playing with a lot of passion right now. I think it is safe to say this expansion club is a true contender this season. Just question whether not they can get it done on the road or not when it matters. Only one road win this season.
	3 (3)	5-3-9 24 pts.	The off week meant they were passed by Toronto and Chicago in the standings. I still see DC over those two clubs right now.
	4 (4)	6-3-7 25 pts.	Another stumble at home, but at least they got points out of it. A 1-2-4 home record is nothing to brag about, hell even New York has more home wins this season than the Fire do. That has to change and change fast.
	5 (2)	8-5-3 27 pts.	This club needs a week to regroup, maybe a trip to New England is what this side needs to get back on track here.
	6 (6)	5-3-9 24 pts.	Gutted out another draw here. Still waiting to see this club make some moves here this summer. They certainly need to if they want a repeat.
	7 (8)	7-6-4 25 pts.	A win against the Quakes on the road was certainly good to see out of this bunch. Still their record suggests they are just slightly above average here, can they turn some heads in the second half of the season?
	8 (7)	6-4-6 24 pts.	I know I am bumping them for a home win over Dallas but it wasn’t that impressive of a win to me. They do still need to take care of business as they have RSL and LA on their tail.
	9 (10)	5-3-9 24 pts.	Slowly inching their way up the charts here. Now the fun begins with Beckham returning. At least they get a fairly easy game to start him out with in New York.
	10 (9)	5-6-5 20 pts.	It’s now or never for this club to make some moves here. They are quickly being pushed out of contention each week by those ahead of them.
	11 (11)	5-6-5 20 pts.	A big trip to Columbus this week will give us a sense of if this club has what it takes to stay in contention out west or if they are closer to being out of contention with those below them.
	12 (10)	4-5-5 17 pts.	With all the issues going on with this side in terms of injuries, one has to wonder if they have the depth to make a push up the table here.
	13 (13)	4-8-5 17 pts.	The loss to Colorado has to be a confidence killer. I do wonder why this club isn’t making any transfer window noise here though.
	14 (14)	3-9-4 13 pts.	Inching closer to double digit losses on the season. I think the loss of Aaron Pitckolen to their defense is going to be a big one. This club already had no defensive depth.
	15 (15)	2-13-4 10 pts.	Will this club spoil Beckham’s return? Or will it be more of the same? One thing we do know is Juan Carlos Osorio is going no where until at least after this season is over with.

Order of video: Edson Buddle, Chad Barrett, Darren Huckerby, Kosuke Kimura, Brad Davis, Patrick Ianni

Freddie Ljungberg and Seattle are inching their way to the top. (Photo via Prost Amerika Soccer/Point Taken Photos)

Ah it was good to have a full day of soccer on Saturday (and parts of Sunday). Plenty of items to discuss today with the All-Star roster being anounced this afternoon. Until then it is time to wade through the week that was week 17 in Major League Soccer.

This was certainly a moving week for a lot of clubs. The eastern conference got just a little tighter with Chicago and Toronto inching up to the top while DC United was off this past week. Columbus isn’t too far behind either making the four team race a very interesting thing to watch as we move on towards the ladder part of the summer. Can we already say that it will be these four clubs from the east in the playoffs? I know KC and New England would love to have something to say about that but it is starting to look more and more like those two will be on the outside looking in this time around.

Out west things are even tighter with Seattle’s win over top dog Hosuton on Saturday and with LA’s win over HDC rival Chivas USA. Right now we are seeing as many as five clubs in the race out west with clubs like RSL starting to come around a little more here. Thing is I am wondering if RSL has enough to get back into the mix with the way LA has been playing recently.

Western Powers Spark Interesting Match

One thing can be said about the Houston-Seattle game, it didn’t lack any drama. Sure the Fredy Montero goal was a very questionable call but the game looked to have gone Seattle’s way a little more anyways on Saturday. I think even had that goal been not counted by the center official, the Sounders would have found another way past Pat Onstad and company.

Now Seattle moves within striking distance of Houston at the top of the table. One thing can be said about Sigi Schmid’s group, they don’t back down at all. I still believe they need to do a little better on the road before I starting to mark them as a true MLS Cup contender here in the second half of the season. Remember Houston put up a good fight without two of their best defenders and three other key starters that generate their offense.

I know Brian Ching tweeted his anger after the game on Saturday because of the goal but I still see the Dynamo as the best side in the league right now but Seattle isn’t far off I can certainly say that.

Battle of Los Angeles

The second go around at the HDC between Chivas USA and LA Galaxy was just as physical as the first one. However this time one team came away with points, the Galaxy. Chivas has cooled off big time here in the past month as injuries and lack of depth is starting to creep it’s ugly head in.

The Galaxy needed this win more than Chivas though and they got it. Edson Buddle’s strike was more than enough as the Galaxy do what they do best, get an early goal and sit on the lead with a slightly bunkered style of defense. It works for Bruce Arena’s bunch but now the task gets tougher from here out because of David Beckham.

Yes, Beckham will return this week as we all know and if LA is going to be successful they have to find a way to continue to play the style that has gotten them where they are at this point. Some folks may forget that LA has only lost three so far this season. That isn’t bad for missing guys like Landon Donovan for a few games.

Eastern Sides Stay Level

I will be perfectly honest with you all here, I didn’t see nearly any of both the Revs-Wizards game or the Crew-Fire game to give you a real honest take on either. The scorelines were both level at 0-0 and from the looks of things neither game really had much to it. I will say that I thought Chicago would get three points this weekend but their home record is bordering on pathetic here for as good as this club is. It’s sad when New York has more home wins than Chicago here (the Fire at 1-2-4 at home, NY is 2-3-3).

Toronto Scores Big In San Jose

Again, another result that didn’t shock me in the least bit. I think I predicted 2-1 and the end result was 3-1. The third and final goal wouldn’t have been a goal if Aaron Pitchkolen hadn’t come up lame with an apparent groin injury in running with Chad Barrett down the middle of the pitch. Pitchkolen came up hurt and Barrett danced around Joe Cannon for a very easy goal.

This game was mostly Toronto controlled. The Reds knew they needed points on the road and this was an excellent time to cash in on getting those points. Not only were the three road points big but it also moved them to a tie with Chicago for top spot in the east.

Toronto is making me believe they are hungry enough here for a playoff spot again. After a little slide a month or so ago the club has a lot of life in them, mainly due to their Canadian Cup win. Sure the wins lately have come against two of the worst clubs in the league (San Jose and New York) but getting points when you can get them is always a big thing.

Still one thing that worries me is their defense. They are the one club currently in the top eight of the league standings with a negative goal differential. I know the Nick Garcia trade has helped but one has to wonder if they are considering other players than Julian de Guzman to help their club out in the stretch run of the season.

Rapids Bounce Back

After a month or so of me hyping this club up the Colorado Rapids finally pulled one together and got three points over FC Dallas. One thing I will say is that this club has to start taking better care of their home field like this if they want to stay in playoff contention. Two clubs below them, LA and RSL, would love nothing more than to overtake them in the standings.

For the most part this game was rather dull with little to comment on. I thought Dallas had some chances that they could have put away but really never got on the end of a good shot like they needed to. Defensively they once again were let down by mental errors late in the game. They frustated the Rapids endlessly throughout the game but went home empty handed. Time to make some moves Schellas if you even want to consider having your club in playoff contention this season.

Most of the 15 clubs are in action except for RSL, DC and New York. I think most Red Bull fans are excited to see the club actually get a weekend off for once here. Still we have six big games to talk about, all on Saturday. Don’t forget about the Gold Cup this weekend too, the US has one more group game left before heading on to the quarterfinals.

Feel free as always to leave your predictions and thoughts below.

Saturday:

Houston Dynamo – at – Seattle Sounders FC:

This should be a good game even without all the players missing for Gold Cup duties. Seattle won’t just be missing a few guys but they will also be without head coach Sigi Schmid who will be attending another child’s wedding (the guy has to get his kids to stop getting married in the middle of the season!). Again both rosters will be lacking important guys, Tyrone Marshall and Brad Evans from Sounders FC and Brian Ching, Andrew Hainaut and Stuart Holden for Houston. Also throw in for Houston that they will be without defenders Bobby Boswell and Geoff Cameron, both are suspended for this game.

After all of that you have to wonder what Houston will bring to the table while missing so many key starters, especially on the defensive end. I know the Dynamo and Dominic Kinnear usually find ways to pick up points but the task seems pretty tall if you ask me. I like Seattle picking up three due to the important guys sitting out for Houston and the fact that Fredy Montero is really on good form here.

WVH Prediction: Seattle 2, Houston 1

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Kansas City Wizards – at – New England Revolution:

Right now the Revs are looking very bad. Mainly due to the amount of injuries they have piled up on their roster at the moment. Wizard’s coach Curt Onalfo has to like heading on the road and see so many injuries on the other side’s injury report. Many key guys will be out for the Revs while KC will just be lacking a couple international callups for the Gold Cup. In a way it levels things a bit since KC has a fairly weak and young defense. As much as I want to pick KC in this one I just see New England getting by some how with a draw. Maybe it’s blindness on my part to pick Steve Nicol’s group right now but something just tells me KC isn’t quite there to pick up important points on the road right now. Just a hunch I have.

WVH Prediction: New England 1, KC 1

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Columbus Crew – at – Chicago Fire:

Game of the week material right here folks, even ESPN2 has it picked up for your viewing pleasure. I think the Fire really made a statement last week in Colorado and that continues this week at home against the defending champions. Thing is this one could really go either way even though I thought the Crew looked totally over worked last week at home against DC. The Fire could just be starting to hit their stride as we head into the ladder half of the season, which is a dangerous thing for the rest of the eastern conference. Columbus will be lacking Robbie Rogers and Chad Marshall but I do see them finding a way to make things interesting. In  the end though I see a mental breakdown late by the Crew leading to a Chicago win. I expect Brian McBride or Marco Pappa to be a reason for the Chicago win.

WVH Prediction: Chicago 2, Columbus 1

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FC Dallas – at – Colorado Rapids:

I thought the Rapids would be a little further along right now than where they really are. Their last few games haven’t been at all what I expected out of this bunch but maybe another visit from Dallas could help. Thing is however Dallas is really starting to come around here right now and that will only make it tougher out west if they (along with RSL and LA) push up the standings towards the Rapids. Colorado is missing a slew of key guys for this one while Dallas only lacks Kenny Cooper. Depth is a killer for either one of these clubs and right now Dallas just has a little more to go on than Colorado. Call it an upset if you will but I’m picking the Red Stripes to pull a big road upset this weekend thanks to guys like Dave van den Burgh and Jeff Cunningham.

WVH Prediction: FC Dallas 2, Colorado 1

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Toronto FC – at – San Jose Earthquakes:

Both clubs come into this game at an interesting point in the season. Toronto hasn’t looked great on the road this season (or ever for that matter) while San Jose is seemingly riding the waves until they can get the right pieces in place to build a winner. Nick Garcia returns to the Bay area to face his former side for the first time, so that may be the biggest story to watch here. There are also reports that draft pick O’Brien White may make his season debut off the bench this weekend as well for the Reds. That could be good to see as well. As much as I want to pick the home side here something just feels rigth about Toronto at least picking up some points in San Jose this weekend. They know they need them to stay up in the top part of the standings. A draw wouldn’t surprise me but I am picking the Reds to get a win here. I just don’t care for the Quakes defense right now and without Ramiro Corrales in the midfield it could be a tougher day for the Quakes to hold possession anyways.

WVH Prediction: Toronto 2, San Jose 0

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LA Galaxy – at – Chivas USA:

I always find it interesting to see the Galaxy as the road team in their own stadium but that is the case this weekend as the SuperClasico returns for another edition. The first meeting this season between these two sides was a 0-0 card fest. I’d expect nothing but the same this weekend, even with the way both sides are playing right now. Chivas hasn’t been in good form in any match recently but returning to league play against their stadium rivals could be a good cure. LA gets Landon Donovan back, which could be the key for them to win this one. However I just see this game being another foul-happy, card fest like before. Only this time we will see each side score.

WVH Prediction: Chivas 1, LA 1